Upholstery forming machine



Jan. 8, 1935. F. N. ROSS I UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1.,1932 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fie Jar/0,? /I/. floss BY I ATTORNEYSJan. 8, 1935. F, N, oss

' UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F,' M oss '7 1,987,270

UPHOLS TERY FORMING MACHI NE Filed Feb. 1, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR Fre /anal 1y flu":

ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F 055 1,987,270

UPI-IOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR flea e112? M $055 ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935.

F. N. oss

UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed Feb. 1, 1932 INVENTORFuzz/end A4 A 05:

ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F N, oss 1,987,270

UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, SL952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORFri/e //&,( AZ

' ATTOl'iNEY- Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BriggsManufacturing Company, Detroit,"Mich., a corporation of -MichiganApplication February 1 1 Claim.

spect to each other and to then secure these.

two fabrics together, and the present invention is directed. moreparticularly to an improved means for feeding the lining fabric andforformingthesame with portions adapted to be securedby stitching or thelike to the finish fabric.

A further object of this invention is taprovide a lining fabric feedingand formingmecha nism which will be simplein construction, continuous inoperation andcapable of attachment to an upholstery formingmachine ofthe above mentioned character.

The invention "further contemplates the provisionof an improved meansfor feeding the completed upholstery'from the forming machine.

Numerous-other-objects and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent .as the following description proceeds, particularly whenreference is bad to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary and semi-diagrammatic elevational view of anupholstery forming machine in which the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in-Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken substantially on-the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken' substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig.3;

Fig. '5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View. through the structureshown in'Fig. 3;

Fig. "T-is. a sectionalview taken substantially on the line '7-'7ofaFig. 6;

Fig. -8 is a sectional View onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

a Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line -9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary the feeding mechanism for holstery;

Fig. 11 is a sectional taken substantially taken substantiallyelevational view of the completed upview taken substantially on the.line 11 11 of: Fig. 10;-and

Fig. 12 is -a semi-diagrammatic elevational view of a portion of thestructure shown in Fi 10.

Referring partiCuIarIy to the drawings wherein 1932, Serial No. 590,275

like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout allviews, the general form of the tubular upholstery produced by themachine will best be understood by reference to Figs. 8 and 9. A finishfabric F fed to the machine from any suitable source of supply'istransversely ingathered to formlongitudinally extending ridge seamsS. Alining fabric L is also fed to the machine from any suitable'source-andis transversely ingathered to-form portions L- angularly disposed withreference to the general plane -of a the lining fabric, these'portionsbeing positioned-in juxtaposition to the sides of the-ridge seams S.With the portions Lofthe lining fabric positioned adjacent the sides ofthe ridge seams -S, these portions are then secured together by-sui-table longitudinally extending lines or stitching, sothat thelining and finish fabrics are secured together; along spacedlongitudinal lines. 'During the gathering of the lining H and fini'shfabricsa sufiicient fullness is left therein toprovide tubular pockets Pbetween the several lines of "stitching, andstrips .of cotton better thelike B are enclosed-"in these tubular pockets during the formingoperation.

Fig. 1 there is semi-diagrammati v cally illus- 25 trated .a' machinecapable of forming upholstery ofthe character above described. Byreference to this'figureit will be noted that the machine comprisesafraine .15' on which is mounted a suitablelso'urce of power such, forexampla as a motor 16. Ap'ulley 1'7 fixed to the shaft of this motordrives; a belt .18 which in turn drives a pulley 19 loosely mounted on ashaft "20. For the purpose of clutching the-pulley 19 to the shaft 20'there is provided .a clutch Zlarranged to be actuated by a suitable handlever or the like 22.

The shaft- 20 extends into a suitable housing 23 whichcontains reductiongearing (not shown), andthe driven shaft 24 of this reduction gearingcarries a'sprocket wheel 25 with which a chain 26 isengaged. This-chainextends around an idler 27,-arounda sprocket. 28 on a shaft, 29, whichshaft .is arranged to drive the .forming mechanism for. the finishfabric. The chain also extends around. a sprocket'3'0 on a shaft 31, asecond sprocket 32land finally, a sprocket 33 on a shaft 34, .theshafts31 and 34 driving certain portions of the machine ina manner whichwill'hereinafter be more fully-described.

Fixed .on the shaft 20 a sprocket 35 which drivesa-chain 36 which inturn is engaged with asproc-ket .37 on a shaft 38. This shaft drives a.shaft.39which.actuates the sewing heads.

Thefinish fabric-F is fed to themachine from any suitable source (notshown) and passes under forming members 40 which cooperate with suitableforming blocks 41 carried by the fabric conveyor 42 to form the ridgeseams S in this finish fabric. After the ridge seams S are formed, thetravel of the fabric carries these ridge seams between forming feet 43and 44 which hold the ridge seams formed while they are passed over asewing plate 45 to the point where the .needle 46 of the sewing head 47is arranged to engage the ridge seams.

The strips of cotton bat B are fed to the machine from any suitablesource (not shown), passing along a conveyor 48 down through the machineunder the toothed breakers49 to aposition between the lining and finishfabrics. The structure and operation of the finish fabric feeding andforming mechanism, the cotton bat feeding mechanism and the sewingmechanism form no' part of the present invention which is directed moreparticularly to the structure about to be described.

Disposed at one side of the frame is a skeleton frame 60 and a supportfor a cradle 61 on which a roll 62 of the lining fabric L may besupported. The lining fabric passes from this roll over suitable rolls63 by which it is spread and smoothed and then passes downwardly intothe machine into a forming mechanism which func tions to transverselyingather this fabric to form therein the portions L.

As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, thereis provided a frame member 65 which extends transversely of the machine.This frame member is provided in its upper face with a longitudinallyextending T-slot 66 which receives the heads of bolts 67, which boltssecure to the frame member the upper ends of bars 68. A plurality ofthese bars are provided, dependent upon the number of portions L to beformed in the lining fabric, and these bars are adjustable transverselyof the machine by virtue of the bolts 67 and the slot 66.

The bars 68 extend downwardly and are provided adjacent their lower endswith grooves 69 bers '72, these members constituting the forward ends ofthe forming feet 43 and 44, these latter being furcations of the members'72. Thus the lower ends of the bars 68 are firmly held adjacent thelower edge of the frame member 65, and each bar is also held accuratelyin vertical alignment with one pair of forming feet 43 and 44.

The bars .68 constitute track-like members which engage the rear face ofthe lining fabric during the travel of the latter downwardly through themachine, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each bar 68 isprovided adjacent its lower end with a formingrib '75, the forming ribof each bar being connected to itsrespective bar by an inclined portion76. It will be noted that the forming ribs are on the edges of the bars68 which engage the rear face of the lining fabric so that as the liningfabric moves into engagement with the forming ribs the fabric is movedoutwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. by the forming ribs.. Itwill be noted further. byv reference particularly to Fig. 4 of thedrawings, that the forming ribs are of different lengths and that theforming ribs disposed on the bars 68 located centrally of the machineare the longest, the forming ribs on the bars disposedon either side ofthe central bars decreasing successively in length. With thisarrangement the cloth will first be moved into engagement with theforming ribs disposed centrally of the machine and then will be broughtinto successive engagement with the remaining forming ribs disposed onopposite sides of the central forming ribs. Thus the cloth will begathered inwardly from the sides to produce the portions L, as will bemore fully brought out.

The reference character 80 designates a frame member which extendstransversely of the machine and parallel with, but forwardly of, theframe member 65. This frame member is provided adjacent its upper edgewith a longitudinally extending T-slot 81 which receives the heads 82 ofbolts 83, these latter bolts functioning to adjustably secure to theframe member a pluirality of supports 84. The supports 84 correspond innumber to the bars 68, and being adjustable transversely of the machine,each support 84 may be positioned relative to its respective bar 68.

Fixed to each support adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof are stubshafts 85 and 86, and mounted on these stub shafts are sprockets 8'7 and88, respectively. A chain 89 engages each pair of sprockets 87 and 88,and an idler 90 is preferably provided for engagement with each chain.

For driving the chains 89 a gear 95 is fixed to each shaft 85, and thesegears are in turn driven by gears 96 fixed to the shaft 31 which isjournaled in the supports 84 and which is driven by the sprocket 30. Itwill be noted that one forming chain 89 is associated with each bar 68and that each forming chain during a portion of its travel is directlybeside the forming rib of its respective bar. Thus thelining fabricpassing downwardly over the bars 68 is engaged on its one face by theforming ribs and on its other face by the forming chains in the mannerclearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the forming chains andforming ribs thus cooperating to form the portions L in the lining.fabric. It will be noted that each forming chain comprises side links100 connected by transversely extending pins 101, and for stripping thelining fabric from these chains as the fabric passes under the sprockets88 there is secured to the lower end of each support 84 a plate 102.Each plate 102 has a finger portion 103 which projects to a pointbetween the side links 100 of the chain and under the chain where thelatter starts its upward travel from under the sprocket wheel 88. Thuseach finger 103 functions to strip the lining fabricfrom its respectiveforming chain 89 with the result that the lining fabric is caused totravel forwardly under the several plates 102.

A sewing head 104 is associated with each plate 102, and each sewinghead is provided with a base plate 105 under which a portion of eachplate 102 projects. Thus the lining fabric is caused to travel fromunder the plates 102 forwardly under the plates 105, and each of theselatter plates is provided with a flange 106 which cooperates with thesewing plate 45 to hold the portion L of the lining fabric in positionadjacent the seam ridge S of the finish fabric.

It will be understood that as the lining and finish fabrics with thestrips of cotton bat positioned between the same travel past the sewingheads, the two fabrics are united by lines of stitching through theportions L of the lining fabric and the seam ridges of the finishfabric.

To maintain the travel of the finished upholstery as it passes thesewing heads, a feeding roll 110 is provided, this roll being mounted onthe shaft 34 which, it will be recalled, is driven by the chain 26 andthus in synchronism with the other parts of the sewing machine.

Cooperating with the feeding roll 110 to urge the completed upholsteryinto engagement therewith, are pressure rolls 111 and 112 mounted onshafts 113 and 114 respectively. These shafts are journaled at theirends in suitable supporting housings 115, these housings being pivotallymounted at their lower ends on shafts 115. Each housing is movable fromthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 12 of the drawings to theposition shown in dotted lines in this figure, for the purpose of movingthe pressure rolls 111 and 112 into or out of engagement with theupholstery passing over the feeding roll.

For the purpose of moving the housings 115, a bell crank lever 116 ispivotally mounted on one housing, and one arm 117 of this bell cranklever is pivotally connected to the end of a link 118, this link beingpivoted as at 119 toa stationary part of the machine frame. Thus byswinging the bell crank lever about its pivot, the housings 115 will beforcibly moved about their pivots to move the pressure rolls into or outof engagement with the finished upholstery.

For the purpose of driving the rolls 111 and 112 so that theirperipheral speeds will be substantially the same as that of the feedingroll 110, suitable gearing such as illustrated in Figs. and 11 isprovided. Thus it will be noted that a gear 120 is mounted on theshaft'34 and that this gear drives a gear 121 on a stub shaft 122. Asprocket 123 on this shaft is connected by a chain 124 to a sprocket 125on a sleeve 126 rotatable on shaft 115. A sprocket 127 on this sleeve isconnected by a chain 128 to a sprocket 129 fixed on the shaft 114, therebeing preferably provided a suitable idler sprocket 130 which engagesthe chain 128.

Fixed to the shaft 114 is a gear 131 which, through suitable idlergears, drives a gear 132 fixed to the shaft 113. One of the idler gearssuch, for example, as that designated by the reference character 133, isfixed on a shaft 134 which extends parallel to the shafts 113 and 114for the purpose of aiding in driving a set of gears similar to thatillustrated and mounted on the other ends of the shafts 113 and 114.

From the above it is believed that the operation of the machine will beclearly apparent. The lining fabric is supplied to the machine andtravels downwardly over the bars 68 and thus into engagement with theforming ribs 75 carried by these bars. Since these forming ribs are ofdifferent lengths and since the longer ribs are disposed centrally ofthe machine, the central part of the strip of lining fabric will befirst to engage the forming ribs.

As the forming chains are rotated, these chains will cooperate withtheir respective forming ribs to transversely gather the lining fabricinwardly to form the portions L in the lining fabric. As the strip oflining fabric passes under the lower sprockets 88 it will be strippedfrom the forming chains and will then pass under the plates 102 and 105,the flange 106 of the latter holding the portions L' of the liningfabric in position, adjacent the seam ridges already formed in thefinish fabric.

After the sewing operation is completed the finished upholstery willpass between the pressure rolls and feeding roll and will thus bedelivered from the machine in its completed state.

It will be apparent that the forming and feeding mechanism for thelining fabric will be substantially automatic and continuous inoperation and will operate in synchronism with the finish fabric feedingand forming mechanism, the cotton bat feeding mechanism and the sewingmechanisms. The portions L of the lining fabric will not only be formedin the fabric during the travel thereof, but will be brought into properrelation to the seam ridges so that they may be stitched thereto duringthe travel of the two fabrics together.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to beclearly understood that the description is for the purposes ofillustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventiveidea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as will fall Within the purview ofthe attached claim.

What I claim as my invention is:

In an upholstery forming machine, means for advancing a strip ofmaterial, bars over which said strip of material is advanced, formingribs on said bars, endless chains cooperating with said forming ribs toform portions in said strip of material angularly disposed relative tothe general plane thereof, a plate member having portions projectingadjacent said chains to strip the material therefrom after the saidangularly disposed portions have been formed in the strip of material,and sewing heads each of which is provided with a flanged plate adaptedto maintain the angularly disposed portions in said strip of materialduring the sewing operation.

FREDERICK N. ROSS.

